Kokushibo's head slowly vanished into nothingness right before Goku's eyes. "He told me about otosan... He complimented me... After all, he wasn't so evil, for someone who's a demon," said Goku. "I shouldn't talk, since I'm a demon too, even if only in part..."
"Goodbye, dear uncle Michikatsu."
In that moment, Goku spat a huge amount of blood. His body started to contort and he crumbled to his knees. Huge veins appeared through his body, and his remaining eye almost lolled out the orbit. "AAAARRRRGGHHH!" He screamed in pain.
(This... This is the recoil for using the mark, the Transparent World and the demon form all at once...) he realized, spitting blood. "Goku-kun!" screamed Shinobu, worried, as she ran to his side. But then, Goku fainted. "Please, don't leave us!" exclaimed Shinobu, shaking his body. "He won't. He's alive," said Giyuu. "He, alone, managed to defeat someone we didn't manage to defeat in five..." said Gyomei. "You're worthy of being a Hashira, Tsugikuni."
A few minutes later...
Outside the room, everyone had settled to reach Muzan. But they had to wait for Goku to wake up. Rengoku and Shinobu were sitting beside him. Shinobu was bandaging his numerous wounds, while Rengoku was there just for mental support. Suddenly, Sanemi, who had been fainted for the whole time, woke up. "WHERE'S THAT MOTHERFUCKER? I'LL KILL HIM!" He screamed, furious. "Calm down, Shinazugawa," said Gyomei. "Upper Rank One is gone. Tsugikuni defeated him. On his own."
"Tch... Showoff, as usual, but I have to thank him when he wakes up. "Shinazugawa-san, I don't know if that's the case, but..." muttered Muichiro. "Look at Genya."
Sanemi turned and saw Genya sliced in half vertically, who had been slowly started to turn into dust. "WAAAH!" he screamed, in horror and pain. "WHY IS HE TURNING INTO DUST?" he demanded. "A... Aniki..." muttered Genya. "Don't worry, nii-chan will find a solution!" exclaimed Sanemi. "Nii-chan... I'm sorry..." muttered Genya. "I'm sorry for having criticize you, that day... And for being such a burden..."
In that moment, Goku's eye fluttered open and saw the scene. (Ge... Genya-kun...) he thought. (I... I let another one of my friends die... It happened again, just like Tanjiro-kun, Genya-kun is dying right before my eyes... If I had arrived even ten seconds earlier, he'd be alive in this moment. I'm sorry, Genya-kun.)
"YOU WEREN'T A BURDEN! NOT EVEN ONCE!" screamed Sanemi, trying to hold back his tears. "DON'T DIE! DON'T YOU DARE DYING BEFORE ME!"
"Thank you... for protecting me..." muttered Genya. "I didn't protect you, baka!" exclaimed Sanemi. "I wanted to protect you, just like you protected me... We feel the same way because we're brothers... You suffered a lot, so I want you to be happy. I don't want you to die."
"Because my nii-chan... is the nicest person... in the world... Thanks, nii-chan."
"AAGH! PLEASE, GODS, DON'T BRING MY LITTLE BROTHER AWAY FROM ME!" Screamed Sanemi, who started crying. In that moment, Genya disappeared. "NOOO! GENYAAA!" AAAGHH!" cried Sanemi. Everyone who witnessed the scene was moved. Even Giyuu lowered his head. Then, Goku got up and reached Sanemi. "I'm sorry, my friend. If I had arrived a bit earlier, he'd be alive now..." he muttered. "Don't you dare..." muttered Sanemi. "DON'T YOU DARE SAY IT WAS YOUR FAULT! IT'S ONLY MY FAULT IF MY LITTLE BROTHER DIED!" he screamed, turning to face Goku. "...Sorry, Sanemi."
"Shinazugawa... Get up," said Gyomei. "It won't be over until we defeat Muzan," he said. "Please, can we have a break? I'm still injured, I can't fight Muzan in these conditions," said Goku. "Goku's right, Himejima. I also need a break..." said Muichiro. "...Fine. We'll rest, for now," said Gyomei.
Then, Goku got closer to Sanemi, and without warning, he hugged him. "Thank you, Goku..." said Sanemi, his voice muffled by Goku's haori and his own tears. "Don't thank me. Nobody hugged me when I lost my brother, so I'm just ensuring someone hugs you, now that you've lost yours," said Goku. Then, the two of them got up. "Hold your head high, Sanemi. Until this is over, we can't say we've won," said the Sun Hashira. "Yeah..." muttered Sanemi. "I see you've lost two fingers, while Muichiro-kun lost a hand..." muttered Goku. "Muichiro-kun, I suggest you not to fight anymore. I say this for your sake."
"But I want to help!" said Muichiro. "You'll help in another way, not by fighting," said Goku. "...Okay..." muttered Muichiro, understanding.
Later on, Shinobu was bandaging Goku's right arm. "You saved us once again..." she said. "I had to. I'm tired, I just want to go home... But I can't. Until that first-class motherfucker ain't dead, I won't give up either," said Goku. "Just try not to die, okay...?" said Shinobu as she finished to bandage Goku's arm. "I won't," said Goku, massaing his bandage on his forehead. "But don't you dare to die either."
"I won't," said Shinobu. "You know, I think... I'm starting to develop feelings for you, Goku-kun..." she continued. Goku blushed. "This is not the moment to say this type of things," said Goku, getting up. "But I appreciate it."
"Caw! Caw! Obanai and Mitsuri reached Muzan!" Suddenly, Rin appeared. "Kanroji and Iguro reached Muzan? We have to go!" exclaimed Rengoku. "Yeah, let's hurry! Time to rest: over!" said Sanemi, still shaken by Genya's death, but even more determined to kill Muzan. But then, as Shinobu turned, she noticed something: Goku had disappeared. "Goku-kun... Where did he go?" she wondered.
Goku was running through the corridors of the Infinity Castle to reach Muzan. (They're all dying. Genya-kun, I'll win, even for you! Tanjiro-kun, I hope you're watching me!) he thought, while running. (I really struggled to hold back my tears there, but when this is finished, I'll honor you like you deserve, my friend...)
Finally, Goku arrived at the end of the corridor and opened the door. He saw other demon slayers on the other sides of the walls. In the middle of the room, there was a flesh cocoon. (Muzan is inside there...) thought Goku.
His suppositions revealed to be true. The cocoon shattered, and Muzan showed himself. But he was different. He had white skin and white hair. HIs lower body was red, and so were most of his arms. Without hesitating, he killed every demon slayer there, aside Goku. Then, he landed on the floor. "Muzan!" screamed the Sun Hashira, reaching him. "When you live more than one-thousand years, you lose the sense of taste," said Muzan. "But I was starving, so everything I ate was delicious!"
"Finally, I'm standing in front of you, Muzan!" exclaimed Goku, grabbing both of his sword. "I should be the one to say this, hidden sun... I was waiting for you to show up..." said Muzan. "Look what I have in hand, Tsugikuni."
Goku's eye widened. Muzan was holding Tamayo's head in his hand. (Okasan...) he thought, his whole body shaking. "So, Tamayo... Seems like the drug to bring demons back into humans didn't work," said Muzan. "This is the day... Where you'll go to hell. My son, the boy who's standing in front of you... He will defeat you..." said Tamayo. "You talk too much, Tamayo," said Muzan. Then, he crushed Tamayo's head, killing her.
Goku's entire body began to shake. His mother - or rather, the one he considered his mother - had just been killed right before his eyes. In that moment, without even knowing how, Goku let out a scream that resounded through the entire Infinity Castle.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The walls shook, someone's eardrums probably shattered.
"HOW DARE YOU KILL OKASAN, YOU BASTARD!" roared Goku. "I'LL KILL YOU, I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"
"Bring it on, then," said Muzan.
"MUZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!"
Chapter 68 - End.